Extra ballots prepped because of turnout

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By Deirdre Cox Baker and Kurt Allemeier | Tuesday, November 4, 2008 6:28 PM CST | () comments

An poll worker helps a voter during election day activities at the Martin Luther King Center in Rock Island. (Larry Fisher/Quad-City Times) Buy this Photo

Voters cast their ballots at Adams School in Davenport. (Larry Fisher/Quad-City Times) Buy this Photo

UPDATED: About two hours before the polls close in Illinois, Rock Island County Clerk Richard “Dick” Leibovitz was preparing more ballots to go to a handful of polling places in the upper end of the county.

Leibovitz said turnout was what he expected — busy.

“Judges were complaining they didn’t get to eat their lunch,” he said with a laugh. “I don’t know what the voters expected, but they were patient.”

Leibovitz and Scott County Auditor Wes Rostenbach both reported a surge in voters early in the evening as people left work.

The polls close in Illinois at 7 p.m. and at 9 p.m. in Iowa.

EARLIER STORY: Poll workers facing after-work rush

Voter turnout is expected to surge as people leave work for the day, Scott County Auditor Wes Rostenbach said late this afternoon.

“We are getting ready for the afternoon rush between now and 6-6:30 (p.m.),” he said about 4:30 p.m. “It will pick up again.”

After an early voting rush, turnout has been steady “but not hectic,” he said.

The auditor said it was too early to estimate turnout, adding that early voting makes it difficult to get a handle on Election Day turnout.

Rostenbach could only point to one area that was proving to be a chronic problem.

“The same day voter registration is clogging things up,” he said. “It is creating the biggest problems.”

Those problems aren’t serious, he said. The registration tends to slow down lines.

Thirteen people are answering telephones in the Auditor’s Office, fielding election-related questions.

“Everyone is busy, but it is steady,” Rostenbach said. “We haven’t heard about any real problems.”

EARLIER STORY: Steady crowds run through Q-C polling places

Local school districts cooperated with expected Election Day demands and reduced pressure on the 350 or so Scott County employees and volunteers who are running today’s election.

Davenport took a day off school for an in-service program, and Bettendorf and North Scott shortened the class times before or after school to allow for more flexibility in precincts all over the area, Scott County Auditor Wes Rostenbach said.

It’s one big reason why the steady crowds running through the polls today are encountering few problems. Poll workers, precinct locations and the voting machines are all working quite well. Voting patterns around the county are “steady but not hectic,” Rostenbach said.

There was a lull in the action at mid-afternoon, but the volunteers will prepare for tonight’s rush, expected as the work day ends.

“Everyone’s just doing a terrific job,” Rostenbach said. The calls coming in to the auditor’s office are typical of the nature encountered during a presidential election, and some members of the public are offering ideas on how to improve in 2012.

There were a few long lines reported in the Quad-Cities. A wait of one hour, 15 minutes was experienced early this morning by those who voted in Milan, Ill., but that wait time decreased as the day wore on. Waits of 10 to 20 minutes were reported in areas around Scott County, but many people simply walked right into the polls today.

There are also almost 41,000 ballots from Scott County residents who voted either absentee or at the early voting satellite stations set up before today. Of these, 32,000 had been opened by mid-afternoon, and 26,000 were counted by a bipartisan committee that is feeding them into voting machines. It’s taking place on the sixth floor of the Scott County Administrative Center, Davenport.

“We are on track to finish that up by 6 p.m.,” Rostenbach said.

Polls are open in Illinois until 7 p.m. today, and they close at 9 p.m. in Iowa.

EARLIER STORY: At midday: Few lines at Q-C polls; ballot-counting going well

A bipartisan group of volunteers counting both absentee and early-voting ballots in Scott County was through about one-third of the 40,600 they are charged with handling as of noon today.

That progress, and the lack of any serious polling problems encountered in Scott County so far, caused Auditor Wes Rostenbach to say he was pleased with the progress at the midday point.

“I’m happy the way the election is going,” he said over the lunch hour.

About one-third of all registered voters either voted early at satellite stations or mailed in absentee ballots. Those were placed in sealed envelopes that are being opened by the volunteer committee comprised equally of Democrats and Republicans and fed into voting machines.

The mass of ballots is being dealt with on the top floor of the Scott County Administrative Center in Davenport. Volunteers began work at 7 a.m. and will wrap up about 9 p.m., officials said.

Problems that have crept up so far seem minimal.

In Rock Island County, the lines of voters appeared to be moving smoothly, with the longest wait reported at about 20 minutes in Coal Valley, Ill. In Geneseo, Ill., workers at one polling place where the wait was minimal during the morning said voters were waiting at the door when they opened at 6 a.m. Illinois polls close at 7 p.m.

A couple in Davenport delayed one line of voters by more than five minutes as poll workers double-checked their address and eventually found that they had reported to the wrong precinct. That is a common problem, Rostenbach said, and the five-minute wait should be considered a small inconvenience. “We don’t want to turn away any voter,” he added.

There were none of the red-white-and blue “I voted” stickers at one Bettendorf location. More stickers had been received by noon at the auditor’s office, he said, so extra supplies can be sent to any precinct that runs out.

But Scott County’s voting machines were all working well, and up to 100,000 voters are expected to participate in the democratic process today, he added.

Deirdre Cox Baker can be contacted at (563) 383-2492 or dbaker@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.

EARLIER STORY: Quad-City voter turnout heavy but with few problems

Same-day voter’s registration in Iowa is one factor helping to light up the telephones at the Scott County Auditor’s office in Davenport this morning.

Some 10 phone lines rang constantly as people asked questions such as: “Am I registered to vote?”

Other calls were coming from poll workers reporting problems with getting people registered to vote on the same day that many others are simply exercising their right to vote.

“It’s nothing we didn’t expect,” Auditor Wes Rostenbach said.

There were a lot of questions when a satellite station was established for early voting, he explained, and the questions today were prompted by the new same-day registration practice being put into operation for the first time.

Scott County poll workers reported long lines before they opened at 7 a.m., but the crowds had diminished by mid-morning, Rostenbach said. “We are going to have a big turnout today, just as we expected,” he added.

In Rock Island County, where the polls opened at 6 a.m., most questions directed to the County Clerk’s office concerned the status of an individual voter’s registration or where someone should cast their ballot. Some officials were reporting lines at the polls, Diana Ruhl of the clerk’s office said.

EARLIER STORY: Q-C voter turnout heavy with few problems

Same-day voter’s registration in Iowa is one factor helping to light up the telephones at the Scott County Auditor’s office in Davenport this morning.

Some 10 phone lines rang constantly as voters asked questions such as, “Am I registered to vote?”

Other calls were from poll workers reporting problems getting people registered to vote on the same day that many others exercised their right to vote.

“It’s nothing we didn’t expect,” said Wes Rostenbach, auditor. There were a lot of questions earlier this season when the satellite voting station was established for early voting, he explained, and the questions today were prompted by the new same-day registration practice put into operation for the first time.

Poll workers reported long lines before they opened at 7 a.m., but the crowds diminished by mid-morning, Rostenbach said. “We are going to have a big turnout today, just as we expected,” he added.

Representatives of the Rock Island County Clerk’s office were not immediately available for comment.

EARLIER STORY: Q-C polls open to lines, but voting moving quickly

Almost two years of presidential politics come down to today.

Voters all across the United States are going to the polls to elect a president and vice president. In the Quad-Cities, state and local offices on both sides of the river also are at stake.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Iowa and from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Illinois.

The long presidential campaign was enough for Robert and Elizabeth Elaine Peters of Davenport. The couple arrived at Adams Elementary School at 6 a.m. and were the first ones in line to cast their vote. Their decision? A straight Republican ticket.

The Peters and about 50 others crowded into the Adams gymnasium this morning, where election officials wrapped up preparations for voting only moments earlier. Election official Bev Strayhall headed up the six-person contingent, arriving before dawn at the precinct, known as D-43.

Strayhall and her helpers got the “Vote Here” signs out at 6:04 a.m., moments before a school maintenance man raised the flag. School itself is not in session today because of teachers’ in-service.

The line snaked out the school doors at first, but when the polls finally opened, the lines moved in a quick, orderly manner.

William Nagle was one of the first in line. “I start work early and I wanted to make sure my vote got counted before the Electoral College gets involved,” said Nagle, who works as a union installer. His choice for president is Obama, who he believes will lead the country in a new direction.

Jana Thomas and her son, Jayden, an 8-year-old student who actually attends Adams school, voted after waiting in line about 20 minutes. Both of the Thomases favor Obama for president. Jayden’s too young to vote, but he did come away with his own “I voted” sticker.

Strayhall and helpers took more than an hour to set up the precinct, with Strayhall directing her helpers like a conductor leads an orchestra. The power cords were finally connected, tables and chairs arranged, and documents set out.

“Can all my people come do the oath, please,” Strayhall called out.

In Illinois, workers had a busy morning with about 125 people voting in the first hour at Zion Lutheran Church in Illinois City, according an election official at the polling site. But by mid-morning voters were able to cast their ballots within matter of minutes.

The six election judges huddled around the voting machine and raised their right hands in a pledge.

• To find your precinct in Iowa, call (563) 326-VOTE, or 326-8683, or go to the Web site: scottcountyiowa.com or www.qctimes.com/maps/locations/?id6.

• To find your precinct in Illinois, call (309) 786-VOTE, or 786-8683, or go to the Web site: co.rock-island.il.us or www.qctimes.com/maps/locations/?id6.

• Click here to learn more about the local and states candidates. Click here to learn more about the presidential candidates.

• Print out our election bingo cards, grab some pennies and cover the appropriate spots whenever a broadcaster, pundit, poll watcher or politician utters one of the popular terms.

For the first time in Iowa, voters will be able to register to vote at the poll site. To do so, they should bring identification, such as a valid driver’s license, and proof of residence, which is either on the driver’s license or on a document such as a utility bill.

For those without such documents, a registered voter in the same precinct can attest to identity and residence. Both parties will have to sign an oath stating they are telling the truth, and it is a felony to lie in these circumstances.

Provisional ballots will be used for those who do not have proof of identity or residence, or anyone who can attest to these facts.

Same-day voter registration is not available in Illinois.

Thousands of Quad-Citians already have voted during the early voting period in Iowa and Illinois.

Follow qctimes.com for national and local election results and don’t forget to check out tomorrow’s Quad-City Times “election special.”

Tell us about your voting experience at the end of this story.

Deirdre Cox Baker can be contacted at (563) 383-2492 or dbaker@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at www.qctimes.com

Q-C voters head to the polls

EARLIER STORY: Almost two years of presidential politics come down to today.

Voters all across the United States are going to the polls to elect a president and vice president. In the Quad-Cities, state and local offices on both sides of the river also are at stake.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Iowa and from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Illinois.

The long presidential campaign was enough for Robert and Elizabeth Elaine Peters of Davenport. The couple arrived at Adams Elementary School at 6 a.m. and were the first ones in line to cast their vote. Their decision? A straight Republican ticket. The Peters and about 50 others crowded into the Adams gymnasium this morning, where election officials wrapped up preparations for voting only moments earlier.

• To find your precinct in Iowa, call (563) 326-VOTE, or 326-8683, or go to the Web site: scottcountyiowa.com or www.qctimes.com/maps/locations/?id6.

• To find your precinct in Illinois, call (309) 786-VOTE, or 786-8683, or go to the Web site: co.rock-island.il.us or www.qctimes.com/maps/locations/?id6.

• Click here to learn more about the local and states candidates. Click here to learn more about the presidential candidates.

• Print out our election bingo cards, grab some pennies and cover the appropriate spots whenever a broadcaster, pundit, poll watcher or politician utters one of the popular terms.

For the first time in Iowa, voters will be able to register to vote at the poll site. To do so, they should bring identification, such as a valid driver’s license, and proof of residence, which is either on the driver’s license or on a document such as a utility bill.

For those without such documents, a registered voter in the same precinct can attest to identity and residence. Both parties will have to sign an oath stating they are telling the truth, and it is a felony to lie in these circumstances.

Provisional ballots will be used for those who do not have proof of identity or residence, or anyone who can attest to these facts.

Same-day voter registration is not available in Illinois.

Thousands of Quad-Citians already have voted during the early voting period in Iowa and Illinois.

Follow qctimes.com for national and local election results and don’t forget to check out tomorrow’s Quad-City Times “election special.”

Deirdre Cox Baker can be contacted at (563) 383-2492 or dbaker@qctimes.com.